Five attributes of a complex system

More on the complexity subject... (thanks to Simon, Ando and Courtois, as cited by Booch). This should really be influencing a lot of social science research as well!!

1. This one's predictable: Frequently, complexity takes on the form of a hierarchy, whereby a complex system is composed of interrelated subsystems that have in turn their own subsystems, and so on, until some lowest level of elementary components is reached.
2. And then it gets interesting: The choice of what components is a system are primitive is relatively arbitrary and is largely upto the discretion of the observer of the system
3. Intracomponent linkages are generally stronger than intercomponent linkages. This separates high frequency dynamics (internal interaction within component) from low frequency dynamics (interaction among components). (In a thought experiment, I tried applying this to people... and it made me grin in recognition!)
4. Hierarchic systems are usually composed of only a few different kinds of subsystems in various combinations and arrangements. (I knew the world had to be simple! Booch as a wonderful term for it - economy of expression!)
5. A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over, beginning with a simple working system. (Anyone tried making long term relationships work without getting a simple working system in place first??)